2016 is pretty much the year of virtual reality, what with Valve/HTC and Oculus having released the Vive and Rift respectively. Of course, owning the headset is only part of the equation as you’re going to need a machine that is powerful enough to run it smoothly. MSI understands this, and that is why they’re debuting laptops, desktops and hardware that are capable of VR at this year’s COMPUTEX.
Let’s start with the laptops. The first of the laptops that is capable of VR gaming is the (in)famous Titan. Both the GT83 Titan SLI and the GT73 Titan SLI, much like last year’s Titan, are hulking machines that come with enough raw horsepower to power VR gaming. For the GT83 Titan SLI, the machine comes with a GTX980 SLI graphics solution. The laptop itself also comes with MSI Matrix Display technology that supports Surround View Mode, 4K output and up to three external displays. While the GT73 Titan SLI isn’t as powerful as the GT83, it still sports some powerful innards such as the dual GTX 980M SLI graphics solution. It is also the world’s first gaming laptop to integrate a 120Hz IPS level panel, which promises up to 120 individual picture frames per second. Combined with the 5ms response time, the GT73 Titan SLI is capable of delivering buttery smooth motion and razor-sharp visual output.
If working on VR titles are more your thing, MSI’s WT72 6QN Mobile Workstation would be right up your alley. Equipped with a powerful GPU optimized by ISVs, the WT72 sypports VR technology that reduces time needed for building physical prototypes and streamlines the development/communication process.
Next up are the desktops. First on the list of new products by MSI is the Backpack PC. As the name implies, the desktop is shaped like a backpack, allowing you to bring the device along with you. Despite its portability, MSI has made sure to make the Backpack PC a mean machine in its own right as it comes with a high-end Intel Core i7 processor and an Nvidia extreme level GTX980 graphics card. This machine allows you to bring your VR gaming rig on the go.
The other desktop that was shown off is the Aegis Series of gaming desktops, or more specifically, the Aegis X. Sporting an Intel Core K-series processor for overclocking capabilities and coming with the latest Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 GPU, the Aegis X is able to handle any graphically intensive games as well as VR titles without breaking a sweat. For VR headsets, the Aegis X comes with a special HDMI connector that is located at the fron of the case. Other features on the Aegis X includes Super RAID 4, Killer LAN, and Silent Storm Cooling 2 technology.
The last of the desktop machines that is capable of supporting VR is the MSI Vortex that we all know and love. Coming with an Intel processor, dual GeForce GTX 980 SLI graphics solution, and a 360 degree Silent Storm Cooling design, the MSI Vortex is a VR-ready machine that delivers superior performance under intense gaming sessions.
If building machines are more of your thing, the MSI has two motherboards and a graphics card that may interest you. For motherboards, MSI has the X99A GODLIKE GAMING CARBON and the X99A XPOWER GAMING TITANIUM. The X99A GODLIKE GAMING CARBON comes with MSI’s patented Turbo Socket which removes all limits by providing extra pins for better overlocking on Intel extreme processors. The motherboard also comes with DDR4 Boost with Steel Armor design, allowing for enhanced memry performance and stability. Killer DoubleShot-X3 Pro networking and 4-Way Nvidia SLI/AMD CrossFire support has also been integrated into the motherboard itself.
For the X99A XPOWER GAMING TITANIUM, the motherboard comes with a strengthened PCB and Military Class 5 components. With excelllent OC capabilities, the latest U.s 32Gb/s fast storage, USB 3.1 Gen 2 A+C, 4 Way SLI/Crossfire support, whole I/O, Audio Cover and more, the X99A XPOWER GAMING TITANIUM is geared up to provide the best OC performance and breathtaking VR experiences.
Lastly, the graphics card. MSI will be debuting its own GTX 1080 Founder’s Edition in the COMPUTEX halls. With heavy-duty graphics firepower to hit the requisite 90 frames per second, as well as features such as simultaneous multi-projection and the new VRWorks, the GTX 1080 Founder’s Edition is the cream of the crop of MSI’s graphics cards.
